Actuating mechanism for cell doors and locks



Dec. 15, 1931. H s HART ET AL ACTUAT ING MECHANISM FOR CELL DOORS AND LOCKS I Filed July 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet MQN i i-Jilin)" L. I

ATT

INVENTORS Winn Q f g NEY Dec. 15, 1931. H. s. HART ET AL CELL DOORS AND LOCKS ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR Filed July 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 1 W NM lNV ENTORS Har H5. Z Z

BY F; I

ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1931. H. s. HART ET AL ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CELL DObRS AND LOCKS Filed July e, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1931. H. s. HART ET AL ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CELL DOORS AND LOCKS Filed July 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTO Patented Dec. 15, 1931 w i it 1 335 551 UNITED s'rares PATENT OFFICE I HERBERT S. HART JLND LLOYD J. WHITE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS TO, j SOUTHERN PRISON COMPANY, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ACORPORATION OF TEXAS ACTUATIN G MECHANISM FOR CELL DOORS AN D LOCKS Application filed July 6, 1931i Serial No. 549,042.

This invention relates to master actuating locks and doors, by mechanism such as those mechanism for a plurality of cell doors and disclosed in the patents to D. F. Youn locks and, among other objects, aims to problood, Nos. 1,269,244 1,611,260 and 1,785,471. vide important improvements in systems of Since the present invention relates solely-to .3 the general type disclosed in the co-pending operating means for imparting lock and 65 a plication of White and Youngblood, Serial door actuating movements in proper se- N Z). 451,142, filed May 9, 1930. The main. quence to the master bars, illustration of a idea 18 to provide a relatively simple system complete system is unnecessary. It is known 1o ing actuating movement, first, to the selected uttons in a master control box to effect the open any selected door or doors and power 10 above the cells and is arranged to actuate may be applied through the same mechanism a door propelling bar 11 and lock operating to unlock, close and relock the opened doors. bar 12, both guided to reciprocate longitudihen such systems are operated manually by nally in the housing. It is here shown as means of a lever or hand wheel,it is very deeing connected to the bars intermediate 20 sirable to reduce the number of operations to their ends so that it may be located in the aminimum so that the jailer or operator will housing between two adjacent cells. Actu- ,not have to depend too much upon his men1- ating movement is adapted to be imparted to cry of a series of steps. Moreover, he should the mechanism bya single lever or hand, able to select and actuate any or all of the wheel 13 arranged in a master control box 14 25 doors in a cell block very quickly in case of at the end of the row of cells.

re or of other hazardous conditions. In this example, the mechanism comprises her aims and advantages of theinvena system of intermittent" gearing so contion will appear in the specification, when structed and arranged as to impart succesconsidered in connection with the accomsive lock and door actuating movements to 0 panying drawings, wherein i the bars 11 and 12 upon turning the'hand ig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional wheel in one direction. The idea is to imview showingone embodiment of the operatpart unlocking movement to the master look ing mechanism applied to systems having operating bar; then, door opening movement master bars for actuating a series of doors to the master door propelling bar while the --'i .andlocks; other bar is inactive; and, then, looking Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view movement to the lock operating bar to relock taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; the oors in-open position, by simply turning igs. 3 and 4 are sectional'views taken on the wheel continuously in one direction. theliues 3-3 and H, respectively, in Fig; 1; The above sequence of operation is reversed and V to unlock, close and relock the selected doors Figs. '5 to8 inclusive, are detail views each by turning the hand wheel continuously in showing adjacent parts separated to explain the reverse direction; The object is to so e sequence of operations and the relative simplify the operation as to enable any pripositions of the parts. son keeper to work the mechanism without Referring particularly to the drawings, having to memorize a more or less complithe preferred form of actuating mechanism cated series of steps. The intermittent gearis there shown as being employed in a masing is therefore constructed to impart the ter lock and door operating system employsuccessive. sequential movements to the bars. ing the usual master bars which are adapted For the sake of simplicity, it willvbe as w to. selectively connected to the respective sumed that the two master, bars'are common side of the bracket connected to the gearing 1s to all of the doors in a single row of cells and that only oneset of intermittent gears is employed to operate the bars. In this example, the gearing is 15 secured to the bottom of the housing 10 A transverse, non-circular nalled in the bracket and is adapted to be driven by a bevel gear 17 splined thereon and meshing with a bevel gear 18 on a jointed shaft 19. The hand wheel is shown as being connected to drive the jointed shaft by bevel gears 20 and a vertical shaft 21, Fig. 1. The main shaft 19 is connecte to impart movement to both bars 11 and 12.

The operating connection between the shaft 16 and master lock operating bar 12 includes an intermittent gear 22 splined on the shaft adjacent to the bevel gear 17 and meshing with an intermittent pinion 23 on a countershaft 2 L journalled in the bracket 15. The countershaft carries an eccentric 25 outa link 26 which is pivoted to the bar 12. The intermittent gear 22 has a suiticient number of teeth to rotate the small pinion through 180 in either direction and has a smooth portion 27 which engages a smooth part 28 on the pinion, thus locking the pinion while the gear is free to turn through approximately three quarters of a revolution. The tips of the teeth adjacent to the smooth part 28 on pinion 23 are so shaped as to accommodate the smooth part- 27 and to mesh properly with the teeth on gear 22. The relative position of the gear and pinion when the doors are closed and locked is shown in Fig. 5, the bar 12 there shown as being a gear 22, counterclockwise to the position shown in Fig. 6, full unlocking movement (to the left) is imparted to the bar. Incidentally, Fig. 2 shows the bar 12 in its unlocking position. I

After the selected doors have been unlocked, door opening movement must be imparted to the propelling bar 11 while the bar 12 is held inactive. In this example, connected to impart such movement to the bar 11, while the smooth part 27 on gear22 is riding on the smooth part 28 on pinion 23 and during about three quarters of aturn of shaft 16. Referring to Figs. 2, Sand 4, the bar 11 is shownas being actuated by two similar intermittent gears 29 on the shaft 16 which straddles a rack bar section 30 shown as being removably secured to the bar 11 intermediate its ends. The upper edge of the rack section is smooth and bears against a spacer washer 31between the gears while the teeth areon the lower edge. The gears 29 mesh with parallel, spaced racks 32 having roller bearings which ride in a channel 34: in the bottom or base of the bracket 15. A fixed rack 35 secured in the'bott-om of the channel 3and racks 32 while t the left hand the rlght end of its travel. Upon rotating .to open .pinion 36 mounted on a shaft extending through the middle of movable racks 32 meshes with the fixed rack 35 and the teeth on rack section 30. The arrangement is such that twice as much movement is imparted to rack section 30 or bar 11 as the movement imparted to the movable racks 32. This enables the mechanism to be made very compact so that it will not interfere with other mechanism in the housing 10. Further, the double gears and racks are not subjected to any lateral thrust or twisting strains.

The double, intermittent gears 29 have smooth peripheral portions 37 which engage concave recesses 8 in the opposite ends 0 movable, rack 32 (Figs. 5 to 8). The concave ends of the racks serve to limitthe movement of the racks and the bar 11 and the relation of the smooth parts 37 on the gears 29 with respect to teeth on the toothed ortion of the lock operating gear 22 is such as to hold the propelling bar 11 inactive while the gear 22 is rotating the locking pinion 23. In Fig. 1. the bar 11 has been moved to the extremev right end of its travel to open al selected doors. In Fig. 5, the parts are in door locking and closing position. The smooth parts 37 of gears 29 will turn in the right hand the movable unlocking movement is being imparted to the bar 12 by gear 23 or during approximately a quarter turn of shaft 16. In Fig. 6. the toothed portions of gears 29 are ready to engage the teeth on the movable racks 32 and drive the racks to the right until the smooth parts 37 engage concavities 38 in the racks. While this being done the smooth part 27 of gear 28 of pinion 23, all selected doors having been unlocked.

Fig. 7 shows the position of the parts when the master propelling bar 11 has been moved all selected doors. Fig. 8 shows the parts after looking movement is imparted to bar 12 to lock the selected doors in open position. All of this is accomplished by continuously turning the operating shaft through one revolution. The hand wheel is preferably geared to turn only one round to do this.

After the doors are opened and locked open, the hand wheel is adapted to be turned continuously in the reverse direction to unlock, close and relock the doors. The parts will then assume the successive positions shown in Figs. 6 and 5 respectively. The gearing positively limits the movement of the hand wheel in either direction so that none of the parts can be jammed. Moreover, the operator has only to try the hand wheel and turn it in the right direction with- I out remembering any instructions,

since the wheel cannot be turned in the wrong direction.

From

the foregoing description, it will be 22 is riding on the smooth part 22 and pinion v i pelling system for a movements to the ing seen that the improved system ofrgeai'ing is relatively simpleimndeasy to install. f In fact, t e ma-in: part of the mechanism can easily prisoners very systems require considerably more time and skill to operate. 7

bviously; lithe prseent invention is not re- -l5 striotedto the particular embodiment thereoreover, it is not indispensable that all the features 0 the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in 7 mt we claim is In a jail cell installation having bars to actuate the actuating mechanism for the bars including I5 intermittent gearing connected to the bars;

means associated wit and means for (1 said sequential movements.

3. In a master lock operating and door proseries of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling housing, a system of gearing within the housing including means to bars in proper sequence; and a single manua ly operable device connected to said gearing so as to impart contlnuous movement thereto in one direction.

4. In a jail cell installation having a lockpelling bar and a door propelling bar, intermittent gearing arranged to impart movement oor propelling bar; associated, intermittent actuating means connected to impart movement to the locking bar in proper 55 sequence with respect to the door propelling d mechanism. V v 5. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors where- B0 in a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar, are arranged Within a housing above the doors, actuating mechathe bars including a system of intermittent gearing adapted to be rotated continuously in The old: double-lever l vpelling-bar arranged in a cell doors, a bearing bracket mounted in the intermittent gearing,

one direction to impart said movements to I the bars and means associated with the gearing to lock-each bar WIthIGSPGCt thereto when ter-lock operating bar and a masterdoor propelling bar arranged in a housing over the cellidoors, a bearing bracket 'mounted in the r housing; a transverse shaft ournalled in the said. gear; a'countershaft carry g toimpart door lock ion;meanson said countershaft connected ment to the lock operating bar; associated v g -terlockingmeans on said gearing positively 10 various combinations and sub-combinations. r 1

other is being actuated; and remote control means for driving the gearing.

7. Ina j ailcellinstallation havinga-master lock operating bar and a master door prohousing over the -hous ing;'a transverse shaft journalled in the bearing bracket; n intermittent gear on said shaft; an intermittent pinion meshing with said gear; a countershaft carryingsaid pinion; means on said countershaft connected to impart door lockingiand unlocking movenent to theilock operating baig wa pair of intermittent gears on said transverse shaft 'a rack on the d tween said gears below the shaft and having teeth on'its l dge; a pair of parallel,

-movable racks meshing withsaid pair of intermittent gears andguided to reciprocate below the rack on the bar; a fixed rack mounted below said parallel racks; a pinion carbar are arranged in a a i "operating and a door propelling bar, a bearracks connected to impart intermittent movement to the door propelling bar in sequence with respect to t either bar inactive While theother bar isbehe movements of the lock operating bar; means automatically to lock ing actuated; and remote control means connected to drive said transverse shaft. 1

9. In jail cell installation having a lock operating and a door propelling bar a bearing bracket between the bars; a transverse shaft journalled in the bracket; means on the shaft connected to impart intermittent movement to the lock operating bar when the shaft is rotated continuously in either direction; intermittent gearing, including a series 0 racks connected to impart. intermittent movement to the door propelling bar in sequence with respect to the movements of the lock operating bar; means automatically to lock either bar inactive while the other bar is being actuated; and a single hand wheel connected to drive said transverse shaft.

10. In a jail cell installation having a lock operating bar and a parallel door propelling bar, actuating mechanism for imparting sequential movements to said bars including a transverse shaft carrying intermittent gears; remote control means connected to rotate the shaft; an intermittent pinion meshing wit one of said intermittent gears connected to impart two lock operating movements to said lock operating bar upon continuous rotation of the said shaft in one direction; movement multiplying mechanism driven by the other intermittent gears connected to impart door operating movement to the door propelling bar while the lock operating bar is inactive; and interlocking means associated with said actuating mechanism to prevent either bar from being moved while actuating movement is being imparted to the other bar.

11. In a jail cell installation having a lock operating bar and a parallel door propelling bar, actuating mechanism forimparting sequential movements to said bars including a transverse shaft carrying intermittent gears; remote control means connected to rotate the shaft; an intermittent pinion meshing wit one of said intermittent gears connected to impart two lock operating movements to said lock operating bar upon continuous rotation of the said shaft in one direction; a rack section secure to the door propelling bar adjacent to the other intermittent gears; a slidably mounted rack section connected to be driven by said intermittent gears when the lock operating mechanism 1s inactive; a

. fixed rack ad acent to the slidable rack and parallel with the rack section on the door propelling bar; apinion meshing with the fixed rack and said rack section on the propelling bar; a shaft for said pinion secured to said slidable pinion whereby the pinion moves longitudinally with said slidable pinion and is simultaneously rotated on the fixed rack to impart 'reater movement to the propelling bar thari that imparted to the slidable rack; and means on said slidable rack to limit the movement of said propelling bar in either direction.

12. In a'jail cell installation having a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar, a system of intermittent gearing mounted adjacent to. said bars; means connecting the 'intermitting' gearing .to impart actuating movement to said bars in sequence as the gears are rotated continuously in one direction; a jointed shaft connected to drive said gearing; and a single power de ivering device connected to actuate said shaft.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our signatures.

H. S. HART. L. J. WHITE. 

